Alice inStringland

Children’sbookshaveauniqueopportunitytopresentnewscientificideasintothemindsofyoungpeople.ThiswasthechallengewetookonwiththeassignedtopicofStringTheoryinourVisualizing PhysicsclassintheSpringof2009.WiththemesandcharacterstakenfromthepopularAlice in Wonderland story,byLewisCarroll,Alice in Stringland followsyoungAliceinamoremoderntime-periodasshejourneysthroughnewideasandconceptstaughtinherscienceclass.Wehopetocreateasenseofaweinpeople,youngandold,fortheworldaroundusisaconstantlychangingwonderland,filledwithnewdiscoveriesandadventures.

Katherine Block

Ivona Sandru

Kelly Kokaisel

Onceuponawarmspringday,Alicelookedoutthewindowofhereighthgradescienceclass,wantingnothingmorethantobeplayingoutside.HerbestfriendRyansatbesideherandhetoostaredoutthewindowlongingforthesunandgrass.Inside,today’ssubjectwasStringTheory,somehotnewideainthescienceworld.Unfortunately,sciencewasnotAlice’sfavoriteclass,asshewouldmuchratherbeoutonanadventure. ”Alice!Getyourheadoutofthecloudsandbackintotheclassroom!”Ms.HeartsaidassheinterruptedAlice’sdaydream,“Canyoutellmewhatastringisandwhyit’simportant?”herteacheradded. Aliceshruggedandreplied,“Idon’tknow,it’susedtostitchclothingtogether…”EveryonelaughedandAlicecouldn’thelpbutsmirkasMs.Hearttriedtoregaincontroloftheclass. “Well,hopefullyyourtextbookismoreinterestingthanthesoundofmyvoicebecauseyouwillallbereadingchapter9tonighttoprepareforthequiz.Seeyoualltomorrowafternoon.”saidMs.Heartassheclosedthetextbook.Aliceandherclassmatesgroanedasthebellrangandclasswasdismissed.

Withtextbookinhand,Alicewalkedacrossthestreettotheparkwhereshefoundashadyspotunderatreetorelaxin.Openingherbooktochapter9shebegantoreadwordslike‘one-dimensionaloscillatinglines’and‘quarks’whensuddenlyshesawaflashfromoutofthecornerofhereye.Curious,andgratefulforthedistraction,Alicegotupandranafterwhatappearedtobeasmall,quicklymovingcreature.Whenshegotcloseenoughshesawthatthecreaturewasarabbitinastrangeredcoatwithevenstrangermarkingsonit.

Withoutwarning,therabbitdisappearedintoadeepdarkblackhole.Alicetriedtostoprunning,butnotsoonenough.Shewassuckedintotheblackholeinaflash. “ThisisjustlikewhathappenswhenyougettooclosetotheblackholesthatMs.Heartwastalkingaboutinclasstheotherday!”Alicethought,“Onceyoupasstheeventhorizonyoucanneverescapeit,”sherepeatedbacktoherselfexactlyasMs.Hearthadtaughtit. Steadily,shefellfasterandfasterandthelightandimagesaroundherseemedtowarpandbendintothemostpeculiardisplayofcolorsandpatternsthatshehadeverseen.Finally,shesawalargebrightwhitelightemergefromthekaleidoscopeofcolors.Theholeseemedtohavenobottom,andinfact,shecamerightbackoutontheotherside!Alicefoundherselfinatotallydifferentland,unlikeanyshehadreadaboutintextbooksorseenontelevision.

Thelandscapebeforeherwasthatofabeautifulgardenandnearby,shesawthemosteleganttablesettingwithaplateofelaboratelydecoratedcookiesfrostedtosay“EatMe”andamysteriousvialofliquidlabeled“DrinkMe”.Alicepickedupacookieinonehandandthevialinanothersayingtoherself,“Well,Iamquitehungry,I’msurewhoeverlefttheseoutherewon’tmindifIjusttakeonecookie.”ShetookabiteandasshechewedAlicefeltherselfgrowing.Shegrewtosuchanimmensesizethatshesawthewholeentireplanetshrinkbelowherownfeet.Alicelookedaroundherselftoseestars,planets,andavastamountofemptyspace. Thenfromthecloudofabeautifulnebulaappearedacat-likeface.Smilingather,itspoke. “Hello,mydear!MynameisNeb.WelcometotheSeaofRelativity!Nothingisasitseemshere!” “Looksabitlikeouterspacetome,”thoughtAlice. Justthen,AlicesawwhatlookedtobearocketspeedingbyinfrontofNeb.However,therewassomethingdifferentaboutit.Itappeareddistortedandsquished.“Thatrocketisgoingsofast!”saidAlice.“Butitlookssostrange--nothingliketherocketsI’veseenbefore.” Nebsmiledatherpatiently.“Ah,butyouseemydear,tothepilotoftherocket,youaretheonemovingfastandyou,infact,lookjustasstrangeandsquishedtohim!”saidthegrinningcat. “Buthowcanthatbe?I’mnotmovingatall!”Aliceexclaimed.

“Itiscalledlengthcontractionmydeargirl.InRelativity,lengthcontractionismorenoticeablethecloseranobjectgetstothespeedoflight,andouthereit’sthelawtogoatorasnearthespeedoflightaspossible!”thecatbegantoexplain,“Thatrocketshipisgoingnearly670millionmilesperhour,whichisthespeedoflight,andsotoyouitseemsthatitisshrinkingbutthelengthchangeisonlyrelativetothepersonobservingit.See,tothepilotheisstandingstillandyouaretheonemovingnearthespeedoflightandsoyouaretheonewhoselengthhascontracted!It’sallcrazyIknow,buttheworldisaprettycrazyplace!You’vejustsimplynevergonefastenoughtoseeithappenbefore.”Assheponderedwhatshehadjustheard,Alicebegantogetabitlightheaded. “Ohmy,”shethoughtassheputherhandtoherforehead,“adrinkofwateriswhatIneed.”Thensherememberedthevialofliquidshepickedupearlierinthegarden,tookitoutofherpocket,andtookasipofthemysterioussweetliquid.“Wellthatwasn’twater,”shethoughttoherselfasshelookedagainatthelabel. Shefeltherselfshrinkdown,smallerandsmaller,allthewaydowntoamicroscopiclevel,andintoanotherforeignworld.Asshelookedaroundathersurroundings,Alicenoticedacuriouslookingcaterpillarfloatingtowardher.Butitdidn’tseemtofloatlikealeaf,orawaveoflightlikeMs.Hearthadshowninclass,oreveninthewayshebeganfloatingintothatblackhole,whichnowseemedlikeforeverago.Thecaterpillarcontinuedtofloattowardsherinthismannerforabit,butthen,justbeforegettingcloseenoughtospeakto,itdisappeared!

Justassuddenlyasithaddisappeared,itreappearedinanotherspot,floated,andthendisappearedagain.“Wellthisisveryunusual,”thoughtAlice.Andthen,infrontofherveryeyes,itappearedintwospotsatthesametime!Unsureofwhattomakeofthissheclosedandrubbedhereyeswithherhands,hopingthatwhenshereopenedthemthingswouldappearnormalagain.Alas,nowitwasnotjustthecaterpillaractinginthisstrangemanner,buteverythingwasnowpoppinginandoutofsight!“Howcanthisbe?”wonderedAlice,“HowcansomanyweirdthingshappenatoncethatIhaveneverbeforewitnessed?” “Excusemesir,butwhereamI?”sheaskedthecaterpillars.Theybowedtheirheadswithcertainsympathy,disappeared,andthenreappearedasoneagaininfrontofher.“Thisplaceisquitestrange!”shecontinued.“NothingstaysinoneplaceverylongandevenIfeellikeI’mabouttojumpfromheretotheothersideofyouatanymoment.” “Madam”beganthecaterpillar,“MynameisMoeandthisiswherethesmallestthingsimaginablereside.Hereyouare10billiontimessmallerthanyounormallyare.ThisisthebayofQuantumMechanics.Nothingisasitseemshere!Here,matter,whichiswhateverythingismadeof,canactasbothawaveandasaparticlebutitalldependsonwhetherornotyou’rewatchingit.Whileyouarelooking,thematterwillappearasaparticle,butwhenyouarenotlooking,itbehavesasawave.”Moeexplained. And,ashedid,Alicebegantonoticethatthiscaterpillarlookedsomewhatsimilartothestrangemolecule-likesymbolontherabbit’svest. “Thisdayjustgetsmorecuriousbytheminute,”Alicepondered.Moelaughed,“Ah,that’sjustit,madam!Youcan’t!Theparticlesofthingsherejumpwherevertheywantandwithnoreason!Ifyoulookatyourownfeet,forexample,youwillseethatyouarenotstationaryonthegroundeither!”Alicelookeddowntoseethatthecaterpillarwasright.Shewasfloatinginthesamestrangeblinkingmannerherself!

“Thisjustdoesn’tmakeanysense!HowcanthesestrangeplacesI’vebeentotodaybemadeupofsuchthingsthatfollownoneofthephysicallawsIhaveeverseenandinsteadhaverulesalltheirown?Howcanarocketshipshrinkinfrontofmyeyes?Howcanaparticleactlikeawavewhenyoudon’tlookbutbeaparticlewhenyoulookatit?Iwishtoreturntomyworld;maybesomeoneuptherecanhelpmeunderstand!” Withthat,thecaterpillarfloatedhalfoftheorbthathehadbeeneatingovertoAlice,“Eatthatandyouwillreturntoyournormalsize.Itwasgrownforyouinmyveryowngarden.Itshoulddowhatyouareexpectingittodo,butyouneverknow!”Alicetookabiteoutofthemysteriousorbofmatter,hopingthedaydidn’tgetanyweirderandimmediatelyfoundherbacktonormalsizeandinthebeautifulgarden.Thistime,however,sheleftthecookiesandvialsalone,decidinginsteadtotrytomakeherwayhome.Whilewalkingthroughthegardenshecameacrossafestivepartyinprogress.Itseemed,fromtheodditiesinfrontofher,thatshewasstillfarfromhome. Asshewalkedclosertothepartyshesawashort,funny-lookingmaninatansuitwithalargeblackhatonhisheadthatwasalmostasbigashewas.Andthereattheendofthetablewastherabbithavingteawiththem,thesameonethathadledherintothiswholemessinthefirstplace.Sherecognizedthestrangesymbolonhisvest.Theywereseatedatalongtable,withmismatchedteasetsscatteredacrossitandvarioustypesofelaboratelydecoratedcookiesandcakes. “Excuseme,sirs.MayIjoinyou?”askedAlice.“I’vehadsuchastrangeadventuretodayandI’mnotquitesureIcanmakemuchsenseofanyofit…”shesaidpolitely,hopingthisnewacquaintancewouldhelphersortouttheeventsofthedayandexplainwhothestrangerabbitcreaturewastoo.“Noroom!Noroom!”Theoddlydressedmanexclaimedashesangandtoastedhisteawiththeothers.“Ohbutthereareplentyofemptychairshere,noneedtobesorude.”Aliceretortedasshetookaspotattheendofthetablenearestthemanwiththe

largehat,determinedtofindoutmoreabouttherabbit.“Hmm,quiteright.Quiterightafterallmydear,”themanmumbledashestoppedhissingingandlookedaroundatthechairs.ComingtoresthisgazeonAlicesittingattheheadofthetablehesaidfinally,“MynameisTheory,Mr.M.Theory.Andwhatisyourname,younglady?”heaskedashesatbackandsippedhisteamostproperlynow. Alicereplied,“MynameisAlicesir.MayIcallyoubyyourfirstnameaswellMr.Theory?Whatdoesthe“M”standfor?” Inresponse,M.Theory’seyeslitup.Hejumpedfromhischairontothetableinonefantasticleap,smilingandshouting“Master,Mathematical,Mother,Mystery,Membrane,Magic,Matrix,orevenMurky!!!Anyofthese.Ornoneofthese.Whoknows?That’snotimportant.Whatisimportantisthestorybehindthename!” Hepulledaphotooutfromhiswallet,heshowedittoAlice.Thephotowasthestrangestofallplacesthatshehadseentoday!Thelandscapewaslikeavastoceanwithtinylittlemoleculesfloatinginit,andnotjustthatbutpoppinginandoutofsightonthephoto,likethecatnebulahaddonebeforeherveryeyesearlier!“Iwasborn,”hecontinued,“inalittleplacecalledStringTheory,anoverlapoftheSeaofRelativityandtheBayofQuantumTheory.Ourfloatingtownwasquiteprosperoustoo,duetothegreatandvastoceanthatsurroundeditandallitswealthofresourcesthatweshared!Bringingthesmallandthelargetogether,weunitedRelativitywithQuantumTheorytomakeonegreatmetropolis,theUnifiedTheoryofEverything,orStringTheory,aswecalledit!” “I’veheardofbothoftheseplacestoday.Theyhadsuchdifferentrulesthough,howcanthetwoexistatthesametimeinthesameplacewhentheyaresodifferent,itdoesn’tmakeanysensetome?”saidAlice.“Ohbutitdoesmakesensemydear,youjustneedtovisualizeitintherightfashion.”M.Theorybegan,“Forexample,thegreatandvastoceansurroundingStringTheoryrippleswithwavesbeingcausedbytimemovingacrossthe

surface.”Theoceanisacontinuousfieldandtheripplesaredistinct.Bothexist,amIright??”Masked. “Wellyes,ofcoursetheydo.”Alicereplied,tryingtofollowandvisualizethestoryasbestshecould. M.Theorywenton,“RelativityisthatoceanandQuantumTheoryisrepresentedbythoseripples.Theybothexistindependentlyandcanbedescribedseparatelybutco-existwithinthesameworldinthesameplaceatthesametime.Infact,everythinginourentireuniverseoperatesthisverysamemanneraswell,evenwhereyoulive,evenwhereeveryonelivesinfact,it’sjustthatsomepeoplerefusetoseeit.Youhavetochoosetoseeittorecognizeit.” Justthen,therabbit,whohadbeennervouslypickingathiscakeandsippinghistea,gentlysetbothdownonthetable,turnedandleapedoffhischairandbeganrunningdownapathbehindher.Aliceturnedtofollowhimandthankedherhostfortheteaandstory,andasshedidsoapologizedforhavingtoleaveinsucharush. Turningacornersheranstraightintoaveryregallookingwomanwearinganelaborateredandblackdressandanelegantcrownatopherhead. “Oh,I’msosorry!”saidAlice,“Iwasfollowingthe….” Thewomanlookedatherwithasuspiciouslyraisedbrow.“Indeed!Andjustwheredoyouthinkyouaregoing?Followingthe...what,younglady?Youcan’tjustgorunningthroughmylandwithoutearningyourpassage.” “Ohmy,Imeantnodisrespect,yourHighness,”saidAliceasshebowedherfinestcourtesy.“ButhowshallIdothat?”shecontinued. “Ahha!You,mydear”saidtheQueen,pointingherfinger,“Youwillhavetoanswerthreequestions,andifyoufailyouwillbethrownintotheabyssofspaceandtimetospendeternitythere,alongwithyourlittlefriendhere.” Immediately,shepointedtoasmallbarreddoorthatAlicehadnotnoticedbefore.Andbehindthebarreddoorwasherfriendfromclass,Ryan!HewasbeingheldcaptivebytheredQueen.

“Thisiswhathappenstolittlegirlsandboyswhohavenotearnedtheirpassagethroughmyland!”Shesaid,laughinggarishly. PoorAlicethoughtthatshewasdonefor.ForwhatofthemanygreatthingsinthisworldwouldtheQueenaskher?Andafterallthestrangeeventsoftheday,shefiguredtherewerejustasmanyquestionstheQueencouldaskaboutthoseworldsaswell.Laughingtoherself,Alicethoughtthoseworldscertainlydidnotseemtooperateunderthelogicshewasfamiliarwith. “Butfirst!”shoutedtheQueen,Iwillansweryourquestion.Youwanttoknowwhomylittlerabbitfriendis,don’tyou?”TherabbitinthevestpokedhisheadoutfrombehindtheQueen,nervouslytwitchinghislittlenose. “WellyesIdoindeedyourmajesty!”Alicesaidwithgreatrelief.“ForIhavebeenchasinghimalldaytoseewhatthosestrangemarkingsareonhisvestandhehasledmethroughthemostunusualplaces.” “Ohhashenow…”saidtheQueen,lookingdownattherabbit,whothensheepishlylookedbackupandsmiledattheQueen. “Well,Isupposeyoumustknow,soIwilltellyou”.“HeisaGraviton.Hekeepsthepeacebetweenallthelands.IsupposeyouhavebeentoRelativitytodayandtothebayofQuantumMechanicsaswell?”askedtheQueen. “WellyesIhaveyourmajesty!Youknowofthem?Iamsohappytofi-nallybeabletotalktosomeoneabout…” “Stop,girl!”haltedtheQueen,“Youwilllistentomeandonlyspeaktoanswermyquestions.” Alicepressedherlipsandclaspedherhandsbehindherback. “AndIsupposeyouhavemetM.Theoryalso,anddidhetellyouaboutStringTheory?”askedtheQueen. “Yeshedidma’am,”answeredAlice. “Youhaveansweredthefirsttwoquestionscorrectly.Andnowthefinalquestion…” “Ididn’tevenknowwestarted,”whisperedAlice. “WhatdidyoulearnfromM.Theory,mydear?”continuedtheQueen.

“Well,yourmajesty,Ibeganbyaskinghisnameand,beforeIknewit,hewasrantingonaboutMwordsandshowedmeapictureofthisstrangeplace,calledtheUnitedTheoryofEverything.StringTheory,hementioned.YetI’mnotevensureitwasaplaceatall…”shecontinued,“HesaidStringTheorywastheoverlapofRelativityandQuantumMechanics.Ihadbeentobothplacesearlierandlearnedabouttherulesthatgovernthem.Theywereverydifferentandstrange,indeed,yettherulesseemedtoworkinthatStringTheoryplace.HealsoemphasizedthatRelativitywasthegreatandvastoceanandQuantumTheorywastheripplesinthatocean.Eachwasgovernedbyitsownandseparaterules,buttogether,theyworkedtocreateagreatwhole:theTheoryofEverything.Infact,hethentoldmethateverythinginthewholeuniverseworkswiththesamecombinationofrulesfromRelativityandQuantumMechanics--evenwhereIcomefrom!” “Wow”,thoughtAlice,“Idoseenowhowtheyworktogethertoexplaineverything.MaybeMr.Theorywasn’tsocrazyafterall?Icanseehowthelargecanbedescribedbythesmallandhowtheydon’treallyhavetooperatebythesamerulestofunctiontogether.” ShemusthavebeenthinkingdeeplyforsometimebecauseshefinallyrealizedtheQueenwasjuststaringathersilently,withasmileonherface.“Yes,dearAlice,thatiscorrect.Youhavecorrectlyansweredallthreequestions.Congratulations.Yourfriendherecouldnotanswerthemallcorrectlybutmaybeyoucanhelphimunderstand.Iwilllethimgobackwithyouifyoupromisetodothatforme.”“Ohyes,ofcourseIwill!”exclaimedAlice. Smiling,theQueenresponded,“Verywellthen,takehimbackwithyou,butyoumusthurry.Youhavetogohomenow!”Andwiththat,thedoortothecellopenedandRyanranovertoherandgaveherabighug.“Ohthankyou,thankyouyourmajesty!Iwouldliketogohomenow,”saidAlice.“ButwhichwaydoIgo?Iamsolost,yourHighness.”

ButtheQueenjustrepeated,“Youhavetogohomenow.Youhavetogohomenow,Alice.” Thegroundbegantohorriblyshakebelowherandthingsbegancrumblingaroundher.Confused,AlicetriedherbesttogetdirectionsoutoftheQueen.Shewasintearsbynow.“But,ma’am,please!Pleasehelpmefindmywayhome!” YettheQueenpersisted,“YouhavetogohomenowAlice.Youhavetogohome”. Justthen,Aliceopenedhereyestofindherselfsittingunderthetreebytheschool.Shehadfallenasleep.Ms.Heartwasgentlynudginghershoulder. “Alice”shesaid,“Aliceyouhavetogohomenow.You’vebeenasleephereforquitesometime.” “Oh,Ms.Heart!”exclaimedAlice.“Iamsohappytoseeyou!I’vehadthestrangestadventure!AGravitonranby,butIdidn’tknowitwasaGravitonatthetime,andIfolloweditthroughablackholetoastrangeplacecalledRelativityandanevenstrangerplacecalledQuantumMechanics.ThentherewasthiscrazyteapartyhostedbyaweirdlittlemannamedM.TheorywhotoldmeaboutStringTheory,andhow,infact,itsrulesgoverneverythingintheworldaroundus--everythingintheUniverse!TherewasaQueenwhoheldRyancaptiveandwouldn’tletmepassuntilIansweredherquestions. “Well,Alice,itsoundslikeyouhavehadquiteadreammydear!”saidMs.Heart,“Anditsoundslikeyouhavebeendoingyourreadingaswell.Ithinkyouwilldowellonyourquiztomorrow,”sheaddedwithasmile. “Ohyeah,thequiz!”rememberedAlice.“Yes,yes!IthinkIdogetitnow,”saidAliceenthusiastically. “Alright.Youshouldgohomenow,it’sgettinglate!Seeyouinclasstomorrow.” “Ok.Goodnight,Ms.Heart!”saidAlice,withjoyousdisposition.Shestoodup,stretchedthesleepout,andwiththetextbookinhand,madeherwayhome.

The End

Glossary of terms

Graviton(WhiteRabbit):Agravitonisaboson,oraforcecarrierparticle;theparticlecontainsnomassandnochargethatmediatesthegravitationalforce;gravitonsmayinteractwithleptonsandquarks;StringTheorypredictstheexistenceofgravitonsasclosedstringswiththeminimumpossibleenergy;(theproposedmessengerparticleofthegravitationalforce) Cat’s Eye Nebula (CheshireCat):ItwasdiscoveredbyWilliamHerschelin1786;thisplanetarynebulaispartoftheconstellationofDraco;itisknownasamysterious,complexnebulathatcomprisesofmagnificentjets,knots,andarc-likefeatures;itsarchitecturepointstohavebeencausedbymaterialejectedfromabinarycentralstar,buttheevidenceisstilluncertain Acetylcholine(Caterpillar):Itisaneurotransmitterthatplaysaroleintheskeletalmusclemovement,aswellasintheregulationofsmoothandcardiacmuscle;awhitecrystallinederivativeofcholine,thatisreleasedattheendsofnervefibersinthesomaticandparasympatheticnervoussystems:thus,itisinvolvedinthetransmissionofnerveimpulsesinthebody(diffusestoanothernearbyneuronwhereitwillbindandactivateareceptorprotein);becomespackagedintomembrane-boundvesicles

Length Contraction:Itreferstothe“shortening”oflength;predictedbythetheoryofSpecialRelativity,itisthecontractionofameasuredlengthofanobjectoradistanceinaframeofreferencemovingatnearlythespeedoflight;theshorteningofanobjectalongitsdirectionofmotionasitsspeednearsthespeedoflight(measuredbyanobserveratrestwithrespecttothebody) Synchronicity:Itismerelyapatternthatrepeatsovertime;simultaneous;itisthecoincidenceofeventsthatappeartoberelatedinadeep,meaningfulway Quantum Theory:Itreferstothenatureofmatter;energyismadeofsingleunits(quanta);matter+energyhavethepropertiesofbothwaves+particles;correlatestothetheoryofRelativity M-Theory:Itbringsallofthestringtheoriestogether;11dimensionsofspacetimeareidentifiedand“11-dimensionaltheory”unifiesandsupersedesallstringassumptions;accordingtostringguru,EdwardWitten,“MstandsforMagic,Mystery,orMembrane,accordingtotaste” Superstrings:ItisthoughtthatthefundamentalconstituentsofrealityarestringsofthePlancklengthwhichvibrateatresonantfrequencies Black Holes:Blackholesareplacesinspace(evolutionaryendpointsofstars)whereordinarygravityhasbecomesoextremethatitoverwhelmsallotherforcesintheUniverse;onceinside,nothingcanescapeablackhole’sgravity(notevenlight);hasaone-waysurface,calledtheeventhorizon,intowhichobjectscanfall;it’s“black”duetoitsabsorptionoflightthathitsit;duetothiseffectofgravitationaltimedilation,thedistantobserverwillseeanobjectfallingintoablackholeslowdownasitapproachestheeventhorizon,takinganinfinitetimetoreachit